Boot or shoe sole



(No Model.)

G. B. SEIGENTHALER. BOOT OR SHOE SOLE.

No 330,625. Patented N01. 17, 1885.

V/Lfiwsaes: [70216772077 N PErERs. Phuwurhu phur, WilMnghm 0.6.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE B. SEIGENTHALER, OF WOOSTER, OHIO.

BOOT OR SHOE SOLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 330,625, dated November17, 1885.

Application filed March 25, 1885. Serial No. 160,120. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. SEIGEN- THALER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at \Vooster, in the county of Wayne and State of Ohio,have invented a new and useful Boot or Shoe Sole, of which the followingis a specification.

Boots and shoes after remaining a while in stock are liable to havetheir sole-bottoms darkened and marred in appearance by the absorptionof oil from the upper-leather. This obviously detracts from the salablequality of such goods by conveying an impression of old or shop-wornstock.

The object of my invention is to avoid this difficulty by providing asimple, effective, and inexpensive means of preventing the new bottomsof boot and shoe soles from absorbing oil from the upper-leather. This Iaccomplish by placing between the outsole and the insole, or between theoutsole and the welt or the outsole and turned-in or lasted portion ofthe boot or shoe upper, a sheet of paper or silk so prepared as to beimpervious to the passage of oil from the upper-leather to the outersole. The sole-bottoms are thus prevented from becoming tarnished,darkened, or old in appearance while the goods are standing in stock instore-rooms, and are enabled to retain the clearness and gloss ofnewly-made work.

My invention is illustrated in the annexed drawing, which shows anordinary shoe with its sole S detached from the upper-leather, B, infront, and with the prepared paper sheetA arranged between the sole andupperleather, the parts being as yet unsecured. The paper sheet A isprepared for use by being thoroughly saturated or overlaid withparaffine, wax, or like material through which oils cannot penetrate.This prepared paper sheet may be cut in one piece large enough to coverthe entire upper surface of the outsole, except part of the exposededges thereof, or, if placed between the welt and outsole, to extend tothe edge, and so that the sheet will lie in the seam of the sole allaround or as far as is wished, to prevent discoloration and preventanyimmediate contact of the sole-leather with the upper-leather. Thepaper sheet is slipped into place before the sole and upper areconnected, and is secured by the ordinary stitching or other means thatare usually employed for uniting said parts.

It is obvious that by my invention all liability of absorption of oilfrom the upperleather by the outsole is prevented, and the bottom of thesole is thereby enabled to maintain an appearance of newness, freshness,and beauty for a long period while the goods re main in stock.

The prepared silk, paper, or other material used is of such a characterthat it does not add to the body of the sole or increase its thicknesstoany appreciable extent, and it is not relied upon to exclude moisturewhen the shoe is in use. In these respects my interposed paper differsessentially from the devices heretofore applied to waterproofingpurposes.

I am aware that prior to my invention sheets and strips of rubber andother waterproof material have been placed between the inner and outersoles of boots and shoes to exclude external moisture. I am also awarethat a sole-layer of metal foil protected on one or both sides byacovering of muslin has been employed for the same purpose-namely, toprevent dampness from passing up through the sole of a shoe. Sole-layersof perforated rubber have also been used to prevent the screeching ofboots and shoes. These purposes, however, are not contemplated by myinvention, and the above-specified means for accomplishing such objectsare defective when applied to my invention, because of theirexpensiveness and the difiiculty of practical application, as neitherrubber nor metal foil is susceptible of being sewed through in the seamof the sole without cutting or otherwise damaging the thread. Rubber,metal foil, and like material are, besides, more expensive than paper,and are further objectionable on account of interfering with the properventilation of a boot or shoe, thereby causing damp feet by retainingthe perspiration. Again,

the marginal edges of such material, when ex posed beyond the seam,cannot be so readily trimmed with the required smoothness and neatnessas is possible with paper.

Having thus described my invention, whatI oil from the upper-leather,substantially as claim isdescribed. In a boot or shoe, the combination,with In testimony whereof Ihereuntosct myhand the upper-leather and theoutsole, of a sheet in presence of two witnesses. 5 of oiled silk orpaper coated with paraffine,

GEORGE B. SEIGENTHALER. Wax, or like material, and laid in the seam ofWitnesses:

LEWIs FLATTERY, HIRAM B. SWARTZ.

the sole, for the purpose of preventing disco1- oration of thesole-bottom by absorption of

